history of the mackenzies-第30节
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nowledge of legal principles and practice of great service and value to him in after life； not only in the management of his own affairs； but in aiding his friends and countrymen in their peculiar difficulties by his counsel and guidance； and thus he secured such universal esteem and confidence as seldom fell to the lot of a Highland chief in that rude and unruly age。 The standard of education necessary at Court in those days must have been very different from that required in ours； for we find that； with all his opportunities； John of Killin could not write his own name。
To a bond in favour of the Earl of Huntly he subscribes； 〃Jhone M'Kenzie of Kyntaill； with my hand on the pen led by Master William Gordone； Notar。〃 Referring to the power of the House of Kintail at this period； and to the rapid advance made by the family under Alexander and his successors； we quote the following from a modern MS。 history of the family by the late Captain John Matheson of Bennetsfield：〃We must observe here the rapid advance which the family of Kintail made on every side。 The turbulent Macdonalds； crushed by the affair of Park； Munro； sustained by his own clan； and the neighbouring vassals of Ross humbled at their own door； when a century had not yet passed since the name of Mackenzie had become familiar to their ears； and it is gratifying to trace all this to the wise policy of the first James and his successors。 The judicious education of Alastair Ionraic； and consequent cultivation of those habits which； by identifying the people with the monarch through the laws； render a nation securely' great； is equally discernible in John of Killin and his posterity。 The successors of the Earls of Ross were turbulent and tenacious of their rights； but they were irreclaimable。
The youthful Lord of the Isles； at the instigation of his haughty mother； deserted the Court of James I。； while young Kintail remained； sedulously improving himself at school in Perth； till he was called to display his gratitude to his Royal master in counteracting the evil arising from the opposite conduct of Macdonald。 Thus； by one happy circumstance； the attention of the King was called to a chieftain who gave such early promise of steady attachment； and his future favour was secured。 The family of Kintail was repeatedly recognised in the calendar of the Scottish Court； while that of the once proud Macdonalds frowned in disappointment and barbarous independence amidst their native wilds； while their territories； extending beyond the bounds of good government and protection； presented gradually such defenceless gaps as became inviting and easily penetrable by the intelligence of Mackenzie； and Alastair Ionraic acquired a great portion of his estates by this legitimate advantage； afterwards secured by the intractable arrogance of Macdonald of Lochalsh and the valour and military capacity of Coinneach a Bhlair。〃 In 1513 John of Killin is found among those Highland chiefs summoned to rendezvous with the Royal army at Barrow Moor preparatory to the fatal advance of James IV。 into England； when the Mackenzies； forming with the Macleans； joined that miserably…arranged and ill…fated expedition which terminated so fatally to Scotland on the disastrous field of Flodden； where the killed included the King； with the flower of his nobility； gentry； and even clergy。 There was scarcely a Scottish family of distinction that did not lose at least one； and some of them lost all the male members who were capable of bearing arms。 The body of the King was found； much disfigured with wounds； in the thickest of the slain。 Abercromby； on the authority of Crawford； includes； in a list of those killed at Flodden； 〃Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail； ancestor to the noble family of Seaforth。〃 This is an undoubted error for it will be seen that John； not Kenneth was chief at the time of Flodden。 It was he who joined the Royal army； accompanied by his brave and gallant uncle； Hector Roy of Gairloch and it is established beyond dispute that though almost all their followers fell； both John and Hector survived and returned home。 They； however； narrowly escaped the charge of Sir Edward Stanley in rear of the Highlanders during the disorderly pursuit of Sir Edward Howard； who had given way to the furious and gallant onset of the mountaineers。
John was made prisoner； but afterwards escaped in a very remarkable manner。 When his captors were carrying him and others of his followers to the south； they were overtaken by a violent storm which obliged them to seek shelter in a retired house occupied by the widow of a shipmaster。 After taking up their quarters； and； as they thought； providing for the safe custody of the prisoners； the woman noticed that the captives were Highlanders； and； in reference to the boisterous weather raging outside； she； as if unconsciously； exclaimed； 〃The Lord help those who are to…night travelling on Leathad Leacachan。〃 The prisoners were naturally astonished to hear an allusion； in such a place； to a mountain so familiar to them in the North Highlands； and they soon obtained an opportunity； which their hostess appeared most anxious to afford them； of questioning her regarding her acquaintance with so distant a place； when she told them that during a sea voyage she took with her husband； she had been taken so ill aboard ship that it was found necessary to send her ashore on the north west coast of Scotland； where； travelling with only a maid and a single guide； they were caught in a severe storm； and she was suddenly taken in labour。 In this distressing and trying position a Highlander passing by took compassion upon her； and seeing her case so desperate； with no resources at hand； he； with remarkable presence of mind； killed one of his horses； ripped open his stomach； and taking out the bowels； placed her and the newly…born infant in their place； as the only effectual shelter from the storm。 By this means he secured sufficient time to procure female assistance； and ultimately saved the woman and her child。 But the most remarkable part of the story remains to be told。 The same person to whom she owed her preservation was at that moment one of the captives under her roof。 He was one of Kintail's followers on the fatal field of Flodden。 She； informed of his presence and of the plight he was in； managed to procure a private interview with him； when he amply proved to her； by more detailed reference to the incidents of their meeting on Leathad Leacachan； that he was the man〃Uisdean Mor Mac ‘Ille Phadruig〃and in gratitude； she； at the serious risk of her own personal safety； successfully planned the escape of Hugh's master and his whole party。 The story is given on uninterrupted tradition in the country of the Mackenzies； and a full and independent version in the vernacular of the hero's humane conduct on Leathad Leacachan will be found in the Celtic Magazine； vol。 ii。； pp。 468…9； to which the Gaelic reader is referred。
Gregory； p。 112； says：〃Tradition has preserved a curious anecdote connected with the Mackenzies； whose young chief； John of Kintail； was taken prisoner at Flodden。 It will be recollected that Kenneth Og Mackenzie of Kintail； while on his way to the Highlands； after making his escape from Edinburgh Castle； was killed in the Torwood by the Laird of Buchanan。 The foster…brother of Kenneth Og was a man of the district of Kenlochewe； named Donald Dubh MacGillecrist vic Gillereoch； who with the rest of the clan was at Flodden with his chief。 In the retreat of the Scottish army this Donald Dubh heard some one near him exclaiming； ‘Alas； Laird！ thou hast fallen。' On enquiry； he was told it was the Laird of Buchanan； who had sunk from his wounds or exhaustion。 The faithful Highlander； eager to revenge the death of his chief and foster…brother； drew his sword； and； saying； ‘If he has not fallen he shall fall；' made straight to Buchanan； whom he killed on the spot。〃
As to the safe return of John of Kintail and Hector Roy to their Highland home； after this calamitous event； there is now no question whatever； for we find John among others； afterwards appointed； by Act of Council； a Lieutenant or Guardian of Wester Ross； ＇Gregory； p。 115。 Acts of Lords of Council； xxvi。； fo。 25。＇ to protect it from Sir Donald Gallda Macdonald of Lochalsh； when he proclaimed himself Lord of the Isles。 In 1515； Mackenzie； without legal warrant； seized the Royal Castle of Dingwall； but professed his readiness to give it up to any one appointed by the Regent； John； Duke of Albany。 ＇Acts of Lords of Council； xxvii。； fo。 60。＇ In 1532 he is included in a commission by James V。 for suppressing a disorderly tribe of Mackintoshes。 He secured the esteem of this monarch so much that he appointed him a member of his Privy Council。
To put the question of John's return beyond question； and to show how the family rose rapidly in influence and power during his rule； we shall quote the Origines Parochiales Scotia； from which it will also be seen that Kenneth； John's heir； received considerable grants for himself during his father's lifetime：〃In 1509 King James IV。 granted to John
